Men's Soccer

MEN'S SOCCER: Cardinals lose close one

09/22/2018

Despite forcing 10 saves from Columbia Basin goalkeeper Chris Kirby, the Cardinals lost 2-1 at home on Saturday. The men created a 16-8 shot advantage and earned 7 corners to the Hawks’ 3. Uriel Mendoza capitalized on Jesse Medina’s free kick to make it 1-0 in the 13th minute. Medina served the ball straight up the middle from the center circle as Mendoza slipped into the penalty area and redirected it into the net out of the air. In the 20th minute, Oscar Cortez got in behind the Cardinal defense and rifled a goal past Luis Hernandez. The Cardinals had a handful of opportunities off of some quick combinations, counterattacks, and corners. Creed McKinnon even hit the post on a free kick, but it was still 2-0 at the half. In the 64th minute, the Cardinals seemed to put it together. McKinnon initiated a quick free kick to Cole Fawcett, who passed it wide to Kai Flugel. Flugel’s cross went to Creed McKinnon high in the eighteen, and McKinnon got enough body on the ball to force it past the Hawks’ Kirby. Again, the Cardinals created chances throughout the half, and in the final minute, Zach Bowsky’s free kick from midfield connected with Travis Williams. The ricochet eventually got to Japheth Taylor who got a left-footed shot off from in close, and it was deflected wide. On the following corner kick, Conner Wold found Bowsky in the box, and Bowsky was able to head the ball down and low to the corner. Once again, Kirby was there to make the save. Kirby’s punt went deep and earned a corner for the Hawks, and the Hawks used it to run out the clock.